Vye Computers in the UK have long had a relationship with KJS/Inventec who design and manufacture the Kohjinsha range of Ultra Mobile PCs and netbooks but they have now decided to tighten that relationship by becoming a direct distributor of the KJS devices in the UK.

We’ve spoken to Vye and picked up information on their first offerings under the Kohjinsha brand prior to their launch next week. The first devices will be the SC3 and SX4, 7″ and 9″ convertibles. While these might be known models (I have an SC3 myself and the SX4 is based on the existing SX3) there are a few important differences that make them more interesting than they were before.

• XP Home option
• Embedded 3g option
• Competitive pricing
• UK Keyboard

For example, the SC3 with Windows XP  and embedded 3G will be selling for an RRP of 699 pounds making it a much cheaper option than the Sony Vaio P that it shares many specifications with.

• 7” WSVGA Touch Screen (1024 x 768)‏ [That probably should be 1024x600]
• Intel Atom 1.33ghz
• XP Home
• Embedded 3G
• 1gb Memory
• 80gb Hard Drive
• 1.3 Mega Pixel camera
• Built in Speakers/Built in Microphone
• Full QWERTY keyboard
• 2 x USB, RJ45, Multi Memory card Reader, Express Card Slot, Ethernet
• WiFi, Bluetooth
• Dimensions (WxDxH) 189mm x 155mm x 33mm
• Weight 820g with Standard Battery
• Standard Battery Life 2.5 – 3 Hours
• Suggested Retail Price Inc Vat From £699.99

Other models will include GPS and Vista options.

Having tested the SC3 extensively I can tell you it’s got a fantastic screen (bright, rich) and the convertible touch screen rotation gives one of the best reading experiences I’ve had yet on a UMPC. The device can handle 1080p H.264 given the correct drivers (Cyberlink PowerDVD works well) as the chipset has built-in video codecs. The build quality is very good and there’s a good range of expansion ports. Memory is easily upgradable too. On the downside, the battery life can drop down to the 2hr level (an extended battery is available) if you use the device hard and there’s very little 3D graphics power. We’re going to contact Vye to see if we can get an SC3 with XP and 3G because it could be a good alternative to the Everun Note and Sony Vaio P and with XP, a much leaner and faster-booting system.

Launch is planned for 26th Feb so we’ll have reseller/url details then but in the meantime, check out our SC3 and SX3 product pages, keep an eye on http://kjs-uk.co.uk/ and follow http://twitter.com/lwrigglesworth on Twitter for updates.

Update: In related news, JKKMobile reports on lower cost SC3 import options.

A great overview video from JKKMobile on the SX3. Its attractive, has a good hardware design and impressive set of specifications and features. Does it perform though?

My take-away thoughts from the video are that its a stylish, useable form factor but if its going to use Vista, a 1.6Ghz is the entry point, not the 1.3Ghz provided. I also question the need to include a DVD player when they could have slotted a bigger battery into that space. Slightly too heavy for comfortable one-handed use. Inventec, Kohjinsha, Intel GET THOSE DRIVERS SORTED OUT! People should not be expected to put up with sub-standard drivers.

More info and links on the product page.

Source: JKKMobile

Direct From Japan, the guys I bought the Kohjinsha SC3 from, just pinged me with an unboxing video of the Kohjinsha SX3, the 8.9" touch UMPC based built around the Intel Atom platform. Again, Kohjinsha have squeezed in features that you won’t find on many other mini notebooks, let alone netbooks because this one has a DVD writer built in. Yup, its the same size as an Eee but has a DVD writer built in!

We also have some CrystalMark scores which show almost exactly the same results as the SC3 but remember that this one has the 3-cell battery rather than the 2-cell you find on the SC3. I don’t have any battery life figures yet but i’m expecting 3.5hrs with Wifi off and 3 hours with Wifi on. Official figures state 4.5hrs.

Other features include the 1280×768 hi-res LED-backlit screen, dual cams and ExpressCard slot. All in 1.2KG.

Read the full story

Despite my little moan about JEITA battery life tests yesterday, the SC3 is looking very interesting as a UMPC. We’ve been in touch with Direct From Japan (DJF-Store.com) a company that operates out of the Akihabara district in Japan and they tell us that they will be able to ship the SC3 and from the 3rd of July. The SX3 should be shipping from Japan at the end of July.

Prices:

• SC3KP06A Black (and available in white) $989. (approx 640 Euros)
• SC3KP06GA Black (BT & GPS) (and available in white) $1049. (approx 680 Euros)
• The SX (8.9″, 1.2KG, DVD writer) is also available for $1199 (Black or white. Shipping at end of July)

Remember that you are responsible for import duty on the shipments. In Europe, you’ll have to pay your local sales tax/VAT/MSt etc. Shipping charges are also added to those prices [Update: DFJ offer free global shipping.] but with the dollar rate so low at the moment, the prices are looking excellent for Euro and Pound customers.

We’ve agreed to carry a DJF-Store advert in the SC and SX product pages (that will be up soon) in return for an early shipment and a discount so naturally I’ve placed an order for the SC3. I’ll be able to report on the DFJ service and detailed specification of the device (keyboard, language options, manuals etc.) and hopefully, get down to some hard work with Silverthorne. This could be one of the first Silverthorne devices to ship so there’s a lot to learn from it.

Click on the images below for full size versions of images that I pulled over from the Kohjinsha website into the gallery.

Click for SC3 and SX3 product details.
(UMPCPortal database.)